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MontanaHB 20769th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revise candidate filing and write-in candidate laws

Sponsored By: Jodee Etchart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Elections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Petition rules and 4% threshold for independents

Independent candidates and parties not in the primary must file a declaration, pay the fee, and submit a petition. Petition signers must be active electors who live in the state and the district. Each line must show the signature, mailing address, and printed last name. You must collect at least 4% of the votes cast for the winning candidate for that office at the last general election. For a new office or changed lines, the filing officer sets the number, but not below 4%.

Tighter filing and write-in rules for candidates

The law sets one filing window for candidates. You must file your nomination between 105 and 90 days before the primary, by 5 p.m. on day 90. Write-in candidates must file by 5 p.m. on the 90th day before the election. A declared write-in for the general election cannot list a party, nonpartisan, or independent label. If you lost the primary, you cannot seek the same office in the general by write-in or by petition. In narrow cases, a write-in may file later—up to 5 p.m. the day before the election—if a candidate dies or is charged with a felony and the election is not canceled.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jodee Etchart

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 445 • No: 152

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 63 • No: 36

House vote • 4/16/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 43 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 47 • No: 3

House vote • 2/10/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 59 • No: 41

House vote • 2/6/2025

Do Pass As Amended

Yes: 59 • No: 41

House vote • 2/6/2025

AMD-HB0207.002.001 Etchart DO PASS

Yes: 74 • No: 26

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/16/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/12/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/5/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/2/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/1/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    4/24/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/18/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/17/2025House

  9. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/16/2025House

  10. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/11/2025Senate

  11. 3rd Reading

    4/11/2025Senate

  12. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Committee Report

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. Committee Executive Action

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Hearing

    3/12/2025Senate

  16. Referred to Committee

    2/17/2025Senate

  17. 1st Reading

    2/11/2025Senate

  18. Transmitted to Senate

    2/10/2025House

  19. 3rd Reading

    2/10/2025House

  20. 2nd Reading

    2/6/2025House

  21. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    2/6/2025House

  22. Committee Report

    2/3/2025House

  23. Committee Executive Action

    1/31/2025House

  24. Hearing

    1/15/2025House

  25. 1st Reading

    1/15/2025House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    4/22/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    4/8/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    2/6/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    2/3/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/15/2025

    PDF

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